| | In the 1770s, the French philosopher [[Paul-Henri Thiry]] observed a dearth of female atheists.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> The English poet Edward Young (June 5, 1681 – April 5, 1765) wrote to satirically signal earthly apocalypse: "Atheists have been rare, since nature’s birth; Till now, she-atheists ne’er appear’d on earth."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> In a letter written in the 1760s, the English essayist Bonnell Thornton wrote: "Good God! A Female Atheist! … One is not half so shocked at the idea of a Female Murderer; A Female Murderer, in the worse of senses, of her own children, of herself."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> In 1813, the prominent doctor Thomas Cogan (founder of the Royal Humane Society) declared: "Men contemplate a female atheist with more disgust and horror than if she possessed the hardest features embossed with carbuncles."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> | | In the 1770s, the French philosopher [[Paul-Henri Thiry]] observed a dearth of female atheists.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> The English poet Edward Young (June 5, 1681 – April 5, 1765) wrote to satirically signal earthly apocalypse: "Atheists have been rare, since nature’s birth; Till now, she-atheists ne’er appear’d on earth."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> In a letter written in the 1760s, the English essayist Bonnell Thornton wrote: "Good God! A Female Atheist! … One is not half so shocked at the idea of a Female Murderer; A Female Murderer, in the worse of senses, of her own children, of herself."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> In 1813, the prominent doctor Thomas Cogan (founder of the Royal Humane Society) declared: "Men contemplate a female atheist with more disgust and horror than if she possessed the hardest features embossed with carbuncles."<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/07/21/from_hitchens_to_dawkins_where_are_the_women_of_new_atheism/ From Hitchens to Dawkins: Where are the women of New Atheism?]</ref> |